Tray package for tubes

ABSTRACT

A tray formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material is provided for holding culture tubes, test tubes, or like articles. The tray is provided with a contoured bottom having side and end wall portions extending upwardly therefrom. A cover member is integrally connected from the top edge of one of the sidewall members and is foldable from an open position to a position overlying the tubes to close the package. Integrally connected to the top edge of the opposite sidewall is a flap having a series of protrusions or plugs sized to fit within the ends of the tubes resting in the bottom of the tray. The flap is foldable from an open position to a position at which the plugs fit within the open ends of tubes resting on the contoured bottom.

United StatesPatent Britt [541 TRAY PACKAGE FOR TUBES [72] Inventor:Thomas M. Britt, Red Bank, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.

[22] Filed: July 6, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 52,303

[52] US. Cl. ..206/65 R, 206/46 FR, 206/65 A, 220/31 S, 229/25 [51] Int.Cl. ..B65d 71/00 [58] Field of Search ..206/43, 46 FR, 46 FC, 65 R,206/65 A, 72; 220/31 S; 229/25, 14 C Tannenbaum ..220/3 1 S 1 Dec. 26,1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 657,516 9/1951 Great Britain..220/31 S 1,097,897 1/1961 Germany ..206/65 A Primary Examiner-JosephR. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Steven E. Lipman Attorney-Philip M. Riceand E. J. Holler [5 7 ABSTRACT A tray formed from a sheet ofthermoplastic material is provided for holding culture tubes, testtubes, or like articles. The tray is provided with a contoured bottomhaving side and end wall portions extending upwardly therefrom.- A covermember is integrally connected from the top edge of one of the sidewallmembers and is foldable from an open position to a position overlyingthetubes to close the package. Integrally connected to the top edge of theopposite sidewall is a flap having a series of protrusions or plugssized to fit within the ends of the tubes resting in the bottom of thetray. The flap is foldable from an open position to a position at whichthe plugs fit within the open ends of tubes resting on the contouredbottom.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 2 6 I972 SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR.BY NWAS mBkn-r" iz uyw PATENTED DEC 26 m2 sum 2 OF 3 INVENTOR. THGMASVLBRn-r BY 9% M. QM a PATENTED DEC 2 6 i972 SHEET 3 0F 3 INVENTOR.Womafi M. BEFFT We TT RQ QQ TRAY PACKAGE FOR TUBES BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a tray which may be readilymolded in one piece from moldablematerial to support and retain againstbreakage fragile tubular articles such as glass culture tubes and testtubes during shipment. It is desirable that the interior portions ofsuch tubes be kept clean during shipment; accordingly, the tray of thepresent invention is provided with plug means for preventing theentrance of dust or other contaminants into the tubes during shipmentfrom the tubing manufacturer to the packager.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a traypackage for shipping tubular articles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a trayforshipping tubular articles which is inexpensive, can be readily molded inone piece and is contoured to provide at least a partial seal to theopen end of the tubular articles retained therein.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tube trayin which the cover flap may be retained in a closed position throughcooperation with the flap member when the flap member is in its sealingposition closing the ends of the tubes.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeobvious from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the annexed sheets of drawings on which: I

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the tray in a fully open positionas it comes from a molding machine;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing tubular articles positionedin the tray and the flap folded to a position at which the plugs extendwithin the open ends ofsuch tubular articles;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing thetray in a fully closed position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken through line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is provided a tray generallydesignated by the numeral having a bottom portion 12 with a plurality ofelongated ribs 13 extending upwardly therefrom. The ribs '13 are inspaced parallel relationship to one another and are contoured to definetherebetween grooves 14 in which tubular articles 15 may rest.Typically, tubular articles 15 packaged in the tray 10 will have aclosed end 150 and an open end 15b. If desired, the ribs 13 may haveinterruptions or notches 18 formed therein to permit the tubulararticles to be easily removed with ones finger.

Extending upwardly from the bottom 12 are a pair of elongated opposedsubstantially parallel sides 20. The sides 20 are disposed substantiallyat right angles to the lines followed by the ribs 13.

Also extending upwardly from the bottom 12 and extending between thesides 20 are a pair of elongated opposed substantially parallel ends 22.The ends 22 are substantially parallel to the ribs 13.

Preferably, the ends 22 will be provided with notches 23 in line withthe row of notches 18 to facilitate removal of the end ones of thetubular articles 15. Each of the sides 20 and ends 22 has a-short flangeportion 24 extending outwardly therefrom. Thus, the flange 24 extendscompletely around the periphery.

Extending outwardly from the flange 24 at one of the sides 20 is a cover26. The line of juncturebetween the cover 26 and the flange 24 is'formedwith a score line 27 which functions as a hinge to permit the cover 26to be readily folded from the open position of FIGS. 1 and 2 to theclosed position of FIG. 3. The cover 26 has a plurality of ribs 28 whichextend toward the interior of the tray when the cover 26 is in a closedposition. The ribs serve to assist in retaining the tubular articles 15in afixed position. I

Extending outwardly from the flange 24 at the side 20 opposite the cover26 is a flap 30. The flap 30 has a plurality of raised portions or plugs31 which extend toward the bottom of the tray when it is in the openposition of FIG. 1. As may be seen from viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, the flap30 is foldable from its fully open position to a position at which theplugs 31 extend toward the cover side (FIGS. 2, 3 and 5). Thus the plugs31 extend toward the interior when the tray is in itsv closed position.Thus,-it may be seen that the flap 30 is rotatable through an arc ofsubstantially 270. The plugs 31 are sized to snugly fit within the openend 15b of the tubular article 15.. As a result, dust and othercontaminants are prevented, or at least retarded, from entering thetubular articles 15 during shipment.

The flap 30 is integrally formed with the flange 24 with a score line 32forming the juncture between the flange 24 and the flap 30. The scoreline 32 is relatively shallow and functions as a hinge. Spaced from andparallel to the score line 32 is an elongated indentation 33 which alsofunctions as a hinge but which, as may be seen from FIG. 4, is muchdeeper than the score line 32. As can be seen from FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, asthe flap 30 is folded, the elongated indentation 33 functions as theprimary hinge by virtue of its depth and relative weakness to resistdeflection as compared with the hinge formed by the shallower score line32. Upon such initial folding, the opposite sides of the indentation 33are thus brought into interfacial contact and form a locking tab 34(FIG. 5) which functions to hold the cover 26 in a closed position.Thus, the tray 10 is self closing when tubular articles 15 are containedtherein and no external or auxiliary means are required to keep itclosed.

The tray 10 may be formed of any preferred moldable material such as aconventional thermoplastic and, preferably, is formed from a sheet offoamed polystyrene. As may be appreciated from viewing FIG. 1, it may bereadily vacuum formed by conventional forming techniques.

I claim:

1. In combination, a tray and a plurality of tubular articles held insaid tray, each of said tubular articles having at least one open end,said tray comprising a unitary sheet having a bottom wall with elongatedribs extending upwardly therefrom and cooperating therewith to define aplurality of channels, each channel being sized to hold a tubulararticle and holding a tubular article, a pair of elongated opposedsubstantially parallel sides extending upwardly from said bottom and apair of elongated opposed substantially parallel ends extending upwardlyfrom said bottom between said sides, a cover extending from the upperedge of one of said sides and being foldable from the open position to aImtnlw n-mo closed position overlying said tubular articles, and a flapcomprising an extension of the upper edge of the other of said sidesfolded into the tray interior along said other side upper edge into asealing relationship with the open ends of the tubular articles due tothe contour thereof.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said flap has. aplurality of protrusions spaced therealong snugly fitting within theopen ends of the tubular articles to effect said sealing relationship.

3. A tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said flap is provided with (a) ascore line substantially at the line of juncture between the flap andsaid other side, said score line functioning as a secondary hinge, and(b) an elongated indentation spaced outwardly from and parallel to saidscore line, said indentation being deeper than said score line andfunctioning as a primary hinge.

4. A tray as defined in claim 3 wherein the portions of the flap formingthe indentation form a locking tab for said cover when the cover isfolded to its closed position.

5. In combination, a tray and a plurality of tubular articles held insaid tray, each of said tubular article s having at least one open end,said tray comprising a unitary sheet having a bottom wall with elongatedribs extending upwardly therefrom and cooperating therewith to define aplurality of channels, each channel being sized to hold a tubulararticle and holding a tubular article, a

pair of elongated opposed substantially parallel sides extendingupwardly from said bottom and a pair of elongated opposed substantiallyparallel ends extending upwardly from said bottom between said sides, acover extending from the upper edge of one of said sides and beingfoldable from an open position to a closed position overlying saidtubular articles, and a foldable flap extending from the upper edge ofthe other of said sides, said flap having been folded from an openposition extending outwardly from said other side to a closed positionin sealing relationship to the open ends of the tubular articles, saidflap being provided with (a) a score line at the line of juncturebetween the flap and said other side, said score line functioning as asecondary hinge and, (b) an elongated indentation spaced outwardly fromand parallel to said score line, said indentation being deeper than saidscore line and functioning as a primary hinge and forming a locking tabfor said cover when the cover is in its closed position.

man 1 5 Ivy")

1. In combination, a tray and a plurality of tubular articles held insaid tray, each of said tubular articles having at least one open end,said tray comprising a unitary sheet having a bottom wall with elongatedribs extending upwardly therefrom and cooperating therewith to define aplurality of channels, each channel being sized to hold a tubulararticle and holding a tubular article, a pair of elongated opposedsubstantially parallel sides extending upwardly from said bottom and apair oF elongated opposed substantially parallel ends extending upwardlyfrom said bottom between said sides, a cover extending from the upperedge of one of said sides and being foldable from the open position to aclosed position overlying said tubular articles, and a flap comprisingan extension of the upper edge of the other of said sides folded intothe tray interior along said other side upper edge into a sealingrelationship with the open ends of the tubular articles due to thecontour thereof.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein saidflap has a plurality of protrusions spaced therealong snugly fittingwithin the open ends of the tubular articles to effect said sealingrelationship.
 3. A tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said flap isprovided with (a) a score line substantially at the line of juncturebetween the flap and said other side, said score line functioning as asecondary hinge, and (b) an elongated indentation spaced outwardly fromand parallel to said score line, said indentation being deeper than saidscore line and functioning as a primary hinge.
 4. A tray as defined inclaim 3 wherein the portions of the flap forming the indentation form alocking tab for said cover when the cover is folded to its closedposition.
 5. In combination, a tray and a plurality of tubular articlesheld in said tray, each of said tubular articles having at least oneopen end, said tray comprising a unitary sheet having a bottom wall withelongated ribs extending upwardly therefrom and cooperating therewith todefine a plurality of channels, each channel being sized to hold atubular article and holding a tubular article, a pair of elongatedopposed substantially parallel sides extending upwardly from said bottomand a pair of elongated opposed substantially parallel ends extendingupwardly from said bottom between said sides, a cover extending from theupper edge of one of said sides and being foldable from an open positionto a closed position overlying said tubular articles, and a foldableflap extending from the upper edge of the other of said sides, said flaphaving been folded from an open position extending outwardly from saidother side to a closed position in sealing relationship to the open endsof the tubular articles, said flap being provided with (a) a score lineat the line of juncture between the flap and said other side, said scoreline functioning as a secondary hinge and, (b) an elongated indentationspaced outwardly from and parallel to said score line, said indentationbeing deeper than said score line and functioning as a primary hinge andforming a locking tab for said cover when the cover is in its closedposition.
 6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said flap hasa plurality of protrusions spaced outwardly from said indentation, saidprotrusions snugly fitting within the open ends of the tubular articlesto effect said sealing relationship.